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3/18/11

Indonesia to produce 1,000 rockets

Indonesia plans to make 1,000 R122 rockets to support its defence system, defence minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here yesterday."Cooperation will be made with the Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) and the ministry`s research and development agency. We have agreed to produce 1,000 rockets," Antara news agency quoted the minister as saying.

The minister said this when witnessing the signing of memorandum of understanding between his ministry and BPPT that the decision was taken based upon the results of tests that were considered successful recently.Rocket R122 had a cruising range of 15 kilometres and it could be used for an artillery ammunition as multiple launchers, he said. "We can use it as multiple launchers. It is a lot. It can be used for our artillery weapons," he said.

Purnomo said the project would be carried out in 2012 and completed in 2014. Besides making rockets the government also plans to develop a "remote pilot vehicle" and an "area vehicle" to support the country's defence equipment.He said the cooperation on defence technology and assessment between the ministry of defence and BPPT could empower domestic arms industry.